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Terry Pendleton #9

Full Name:

Terry Pendleton

Uniform #:

9

Terry Pendleton is in his 13th season on the Braves' coaching staff and his fourth as the Club's first base coach. He previously served as hitting coach nine seasons, from 2002 to 2010. The Braves have compiled 300 doubles in a season nine times in franchise history, including each of the last eight seasons (2003-10) in which Pendleton served as the hitting coach.

In 2010, the Braves led the National League on-base percentage (.339) and doubles (312), and ranked fifth in runs scored (738).

The 2009 Braves ranked fourth in the league in team batting average (.263), fourth in hits (1,459), fifth in on-base percentage (.339) and sixth in runs (735). The team tied for third in the N.L. with 300 doubles.

In 2008, Atlanta ranked third in the N.L. in batting average (.270), third in hits (1,514), third in walks (618), third in on-base percentage (.345) and fourth in doubles (316). Chipper Jones led the majors with a .364 batting average to become the first Brave to win the N.L. batting title since Pendleton himself turned the trick in 1991.

In 2007, Atlanta boasted a high-powered offense under Pendleton's watch, ranking second in the N.L. in hits (1,562), third in runs (810) and fourth in batting average (.275). The Braves established a franchise record with 328 doubles on the year. Chipper Jones (2nd, .337) and Edgar Renteria (fourth, .332) both made runs at winning the N.L. batting.

The 2006 campaign was one of Pendleton's most successful as a coach. Despite numerous injuries, the Braves led the N.L. in home runs (222) and slugging percentage (.455) and ranked second in the circuit in runs scored (849) and batting average (.270). The home run total ranked second in franchise history, while the runs total ranked second in Atlanta history.

In 2005, Pendleton was instrumental in outfielder Andruw Jones' MVP-caliber season, as Jones adopted a new batting stance and established a Braves' franchise record with 51 home runs. Pendleton also worked closely with a string of rookies who made huge contributions throughout the season. The 2005 Braves became the first team in history to reach the postseason with six rookies who had 100 or more at-bats (the previous record was four rookies by the 1983 Los Angeles Dodgers and the 1989 Chicago Cubs).

In his second season as Braves' hitting coach in 2003, the team established franchise bests in home runs (235), hits (1,608), doubles (321) and slugging percentage (.475) and had the highest team batting average in Atlanta history (.284). Several individual players enjoyed "career" seasons as well, and much of the credit for those accomplishments went to Pendleton.

Pendleton was named to the Braves staff in November 2001, after enjoying a 15-year Major League playing career. He was selected the N.L. Most Valuable Player in 1991 and was an All-Star third baseman in 1992 while playing for the Braves.

A switch-hitter, Pendleton batted .287 with 71 home runs and 322 RBI in 593 games for Atlanta and .270 with 140 homers and 946 RBI in 1,893 games overall with the St. Louis Cardinals, Braves, Florida Marlins, Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals. He was a three-time recipient of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award (in 1987 and 1989 with St. Louis and in 1992 with Atlanta).

Signed as a free agent in December of 1990 by general manager John Schuerholz, Pendleton played for the Braves from 1991 through 1994 and in part of 1996. He was a key factor in the Braves' turn-around from being the worst team in the major leagues in 1990 to a pennant-winning club the next year

In 1991 he batted an NL-best .319 with 22 home runs and 86 RBI. He tied for the league lead with 303 total bases, helping him earn the N.L. MVP Award, as well as Comeback Player of the Year honors.

He was voted an All-Star starter in 1992, hitting .296 with 13 home runs and 51 RBI before the break and finishing the year with a .311 average, 21 homers and a career-high 105 RBI to lead the Braves to another pennant. He led the N.L. with a .387 average with runners in scoring position and had a career-best 199 hits, a franchise record for third basemen.

Originally selected by the Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1982 June draft, Pendleton, after his first four seasons with the Braves, signed with the Marlins as a free agent in April 1995. Florida traded him back to Atlanta in exchange for outfielder Roosevelt Brown in August 1996. Pendleton was signed as a free agent by the Reds in January 1997 and the Royals in January 1998. He retired as a player the following December.

Terry and his wife, Catherine, and their three children, Stephanie, Terry and Trinity, reside in Duluth, Ga.